The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas · Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS THE DOMINANT NEWSPAPER OP KOH-THEAar AOtrA^o A^ ^x™™™ """*™ " f *^ VOLUME XXXVII—NO. 233. NEWSPAPER OP NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI Blytheville Daily News Blytheville Courier Blytheville Herald Mississippi Valley Leader , ARKANSAS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER. 17, 1940 SINGLE COPIES FIVE' CENTS Pressure On Italians Is Unrelenting' Attitude'Of • ~,• •*" " — — •,, — - '-^y • ^ •• •'•''• ••"' Vichy Gives Hitler Concern Britons And Greeks Pound Constantly •CAIRO, Egypt, Dec. 17. (UP)—British troops, rushed across the western desert •into Italian Libya, have resumed" the offensive against Port Bardia, nearest Italian base to Egypt, after capturing three more important frontier forts, British general headquarters said today. Musaid, Sidi Omar and Sheffer- zen fell to British forces last ni°-ht following British capture of Sollum last outpost in Egypt, before the Libyan frontier and Port Capuzzo ATHENS, Greece, Dec. 17 (UP) — Greek troops have captured Mount Skivovik, four miles northeast of Chimara on. the Adriatic coast; and have repulsed seven Italian counter-attacks there, a government spokesman said today. The peak dominates the coastal area, it is 12 miles northwest of Argyrokastron, 15 miles southwest of Tepelini, at the headwaters of tne Sukitsa River, which tumbles through rugged gorges to the coast first Italian 'defense' position of i 10 lniles north -of the port of strength in Libya. Indicating the British intended to press on in an. effort to take Baxdia, today's communique said that ."fighting continues in the Bardia area where our pressure on Valona. The capture was said to be more important than any in the area since that of Argyrokastron former Italian base. .(Reports of the capture of Tepe- lini and Chimara, circulated yester- L MED-fl Bryant, Eostein Speak; Hotel Noble Blue Room Packed For Event The Blytheville Chicks, who won the 1940 Arkansas High School Conference football championship, were formally acclaimed at a banquet a i Hotel Noble last night where a big regulation size gold football was presented as the official trophy. A crowd of 150 friends and supporters of the Chicks, including members of the Chickasaw Athletic Club which honored the players and coaches with the banquet, sat in the Blue Room for the festivi- Manv of thp the enemy steadily is increasing as ! day at the Ju &°slav border town of „.-. * .... .. -Struga, still were not confirmed In Athens.) Fighting centered in mountains now on -virtually every front. In the Skivovik sector, the Greeks were had new .forces arrive. The communique said that rains which had slowed British operations were over and that "'offensive patrolling on a large scale been resumed. Australian troops now fighting in Libva with the British" Army of the Nile took advantage of ..bright moonlight last night to engage an Italian column, the s were from Presentation of the championship trophy was made by Ben Ep- | stein, sports editor and columnist of the Arkansas Gazette, who had picked the Clucks to win the title for the past three years and who had been the subject of considerable "ribbing" from fans in other sections of the state until Blythe- Explosion At Cin&iiinatti; Eight Persons Die CINCINNATI, o, D<o. 17. (UP)--At least eight persons, nw of them children, were killed. in an explosion that wrecked two three- story buildings housing stores and apartments in ihe downtown Cincinnati market district early today. At least 20 pRrsons were believed to have been in the adjoining brick buildings which were turned into shambles as if struck by R bomb. The explosion, at 3:25 a.m.. broke windows and rocked buildings for n block and a Half from the wrecked structures If, was believed caused by gas. V. The rlrst nine persons to 1* rescued were taken to n hospital where their injuries were reported io be minor. The blast tumbled many sleeping tenants of the two buildings' to the ground, two and three 'stories below in a mass of steel girders, bricks and other wreckage, The impact of the explosion blew debris again.st the walls of u market house' across the street, utility poles were toppjed nncl phone service in the neighborhood was disrupted. The rescue work was carried on in grim silence by policemen and firemen who listened to the cries of victims to direct their digging. communique adding that the Italians were defeated and that the Australians captured a transport and a gun Capture of Sollum. last Italian I th6 ° ree - k bivouac fires:.The Greeks . ville finally came through encountered such 'season .to justify his predictions. m ^ 1CS ' * . y ad "( It wa s received on behalf of the S f°?— improvised Blytheville team by Captain Nor- In me Tcpe- man "Monk" Mosley who told the so cold that listeners he had "waited a long maPhnan v, machine-gunners were handicapped time for this moment." the Princlpal SDeaker afc Dinner shot, many of them. sn-orurhold in Egypt, and Fort Cap^uito.. :nrst-.;big^defense post ori the.:il51byan. side'.of the frontier provided the British. with two valuable bases from which . to start a drive a?ainst the- battered Italians in their richest African colony. So encouraging was the situation to experts here that there was houe of another big batr of Italian prisoners if. Bardia fell. The experts were even talking of capturing enough to bring the British forces to numerical eouality with i l the Italian armv of North Africa. !t vvas said which had heavily outnumbered the comuact British Emoire army. • Greek, infan- ' with bayonets.. In, one sector, it was said, an v Italian colonel was killed by a sniper and his regiment tried to flee, but many were, captured -when an icy river blocked their way and others were trapped and captured in snow-mie dravines. j was Paul ''Bear 1 'Bryant, former Pordyce athlete who achcieved stardom at the University .of Alabama and who is now s_erving as assistant ,coach at Vanderbilt. Bryant's informal" talk" which" was "lib'-' erally sprinkled with humor won heavy apnlause. He mentioned many of the evils of present day football and warned the players that ''the worst idea that a player can get is that the world owes him special privileges." The game Morgenthau Carries Word From Sir Phillip To Congressional Group WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UP)— Secretary of Treasury Henry Mor- genihau Jr., told a house appropriations sub-committee 'today"-that British treasury officials say their jnation cannot order any. more war 'supplies in the -United 1 Statesu:V less financial'aid is assured. • Morgenthnu: appeared at a closed ^session of the committee then he ' Since late last week, British' mil- mortai 's effectively in the moun- itarv authorities here had been tains - Most of tn e Greek wounded warnmer In some_ mountain regions, Greeks j should teach loyalty, he said and ™ r L™" m ?^ ed mar( ? h ^ "nderftfie '«* that the boy owes his as i school something for affording him 'opportunities he would not otherwise have. Mr. Bryant paid tribute to Coach- es'Joe Dildy and Mitchell Best for their feat of Uking one of the smallest sauads -in. the history of the school—23 players—and win- Finnish war a year ago, It'was -admitted that -the Italians were using small, portable correspondents, against | were vic tims of those weapons. Thev had said the ' British communications lines were so far extended from Marsa Matruh the .lumping off place -for the Effyntifm offensive, that a halt was most likely. toughest competition in the conference. He also praised members of the squad for their spirit in Boys Receive Treat From Lions Club youngsters from various sectfcs-.! The banquefc was . also th e oc- Status As Union Official And U. S. Resident May Be Doubtful SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 17. (UP) —Harry .Bridees, California CIO director and head of the \ International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, flew to Wash- inctori s: v; today "%for conferences, if. ' : 6h ^matters wns • to his future - as A Vinlbh leader and -United States resident. Fo said his trip was on labor had luncheon with President Roose- . h nV»nA« h,,V ««,V V , , vpit. W hn ho* H»m,,, n ^ix«. nt t nn business, but sources close to him velt who has begun consideration of the British request for financial aid to keep the British supplied with dollar exchange for their American purchases by loan, outright cash gifts or other arrangements. Morgenthau. who, has been conferring wirh Sir Frederick Phillips, undersecretary of the British treasury told : inembers of the committee,. . which-• is_ holding hearings on the 1942. treasury postoffice appropriations that the British were unwilling to pla-ce any more munitions He did not indicate, however, whether Hi sown investigation of the British fiscal bail after suffering . their only defeat of the season by Jonesboro. Empire forces, based in Sollum v from which .warships could surmly and wovisiou the vanguard, "might i n<r gifts continue relentlessly the. pursuit ° ' of the broken Italian army. dnner ' elected ca P fcain of lhe Chicks for IM1 - J ° hn ° Uver " B °" CoppedRe 210 -pound all-state tacBe, will f n . addition to the cift^ frnm thp ^ erve as altemflte captain. Both ..,., "> ine.guts irom the Ti1nvH Rrirt MH^IPV TC- O ,-» ^™*A ^ club . the boys each • received f _ .. | ~"J" v,i»^»». • AtUClVCU U irom Sollum ; Christmas sock filled with "goodies" M „ ... , M believed that = from Crawford Noble Each mem- the .British as hey approached it ber of the club sponsored one Tf would sweep out in an enveloping | •• .pu^orea one 01 movement, investing the Italians with tanks and other motorized units and infantry while British warships bombarded the entire area and Royal Air Force and fleet airplanes bombed it and machine gunned it. It was believed also that tanks and motorized infantry would" drive well beyond Bardia, if practicable, to cut the main coastal road to Bardia and seek in that way to block any attempt to send supplies or reinforcements to the Bardia area from western Libya. Experts here speculated anew on the possibility that Germany might attemot to aid Italy against the British pressure in Africa and Greek pressure in Albania. As regards Africa, however, it was said that they could be sent only to Tripoli, westernmost Italian base in Libya. There they would Jesse Taylor and Max B. Reid conducted the program. Blackwood Heads Fi^ht Paralysis Drive In Count be nearly 1.000 present front. miles from the Livestock EAST ST. LOUIS, Dec. 17. (UP) — Hogs: receipts. 20,500—20,000 salable. Top, 6.30. 170-230 Ibs., 5.85-6.25. 140-160 Ibs., 5.35-5.90. Bulk sows, 5.25-5.80. Cattle: receipts, 5,000— all able. Slaughter steers, 6.75-14.00. Butcher yearlings, 7.00* 10.00. -Slaughter heifers, 6.00-12.25. sal- Lloyd .and. were named on the All-Southern prep school eleven and on various all-state selections. Another individual honor was handed out last night to Mosley. He was presented a handsome gold belt set for his selection v as the most valuable player to his team. The presentation was made by Clarence H. Wilson on behalf of the Chickasaw Athletic club. Coach Dildy. who made announcement of the 1941 captaincy, made a talk in.which he credited members of his team with 100 per cent cooperation during the season. He said that this year's team, composed mostly of very light . _ ... players compared to those who Paralysis campaign which have worn the maroon and white in were in acute assistance. need of financial New Orleans Cotton May May July Oct. Dec. Jan. Prev. Open Hieh Low Close Close 1019 1010 992 936 931 1007 1022 1015 994 940 931 1007 1018 100& 990 935 930 1005 1020 1019 1013 1012 994 993 938 930 1005 New York Cotton Mar. May July Oct. Dec. Jan. Prev. Open High Low Close Close 1015 1019 1012 1016 1015 1007 1012 1005 1009 1009 987 990 984 989 931 934 928 . 934 928 928 928 928 1005 1006 1001 1006 987 933 928 1002 Stock Prices Greene, executive state director. The chairmen will appoint women vice chairmen and set up organizations in each city, town and community, it was stated. Governor-elect Homer M. Adkins is chairman of the Arkansas drive He has said the ba.ls and banquets' doesn't take big men to play , I A. T. & T ................ 166 1-4 good, football.' The part the Blytheville Anaconda Copper ......... 26 1-2 ' i Am. Tobacco G9 3-8 high j B eth. Steel 86 3-4 ' Chrysler 75 1-4 Cities Service 5 3-8 schol band and its director, Charles G. Morehead, played in the success of the team was pointed out by Mr. Dildy m his talk. "The 1 Gen'l Elect 32 7-J band performed wonderfully and! Gen'l Motors — 49 Coca Cola 104 1-2 usually held on President Roose- i we Lrie< ? to kee P U P with it" he I Int - Harvester 53 3-4 velt's birthday would not be a ! sakl - ' ' """' "" " ' part of the campaign. The campaign will extend through Jan 30 President Roosevelt's birthday.' ' The National campaign. inaW- iMont. Ward 37. 1-4 N. Y. Central 13 3-4 16 7-8 rated in 1937, is sponsored bv the £ rmcipai fyPP° rl National Foundation for Infantile HameS ' PUbhsher Paralysis. Half of the funds raised are used to finance research activities and treatment of the foundation .and the other half is retained to aid victims of the disease -locally. Toastmaster for the program was)North Am. Aviation C. W. Afflick, member of the Chick-' asaw club and one of the team's principal supporters. Chicago Wheat Venus is better fitted to support human life than any other planet Dec. except the earth, May open high low 87 1-8 88 1-4 871-4 831-4 84 W. of .the Courier News, introduced the out-of-town guests, and other talks were macfe by W. J. Wunderlich, president of the Chickasaw Athletic Club, Superintendent W. D. McClurkin, and Crawford M. Noble, owner of the [hotels at Blytheville and Jonesboro" • Absent from the banket was close : Assistant. Coach Mitchell Best who 1-8 i was in the hospital where he had ~~ , 831-4 841-4 (Continued on Page 3) Packard 31-8 Phillips 40 Radio 5 Republic Steel 21 7-8 Socony Vac 83-8 Studebaker 75-8 believed he would confer with government nnd labor officials on n Federal Bureau of Investigation report'that, as a fonner Communist, he is an undesirable alien native Australia. J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director, said at Miami Beach yesterday that "the evidence we have submitted to the' deartment of justice is sufficient'' to justify the deportation of Bridges and outlawing- of the Communist party." City Council To Hold Adjourned Session The City Council will have an adjourned meeting tonight after having failed to have had a quorum present to have the December meeting, scheduled for last Tuesday. Mayor Marion Williams un- to come before, the council. BY BUDGET E ui UUUULI un P re-Session Grouo Members Hint At Slashes In Budget Estimates LITTLE ROCK, Dec. 17. (UP) — Gov-elcct Homer Adkins' pro-session budget committee today was split up Into 'sub-committees to work OH dopnrlmenlal requirements for the next two years. Though no official announcement by nny committee luui been made, statements by individuals of the <n-oup Indicated that departmental budgets for the next two years would not include nny "extras" nncl that every item must be needed before it would be allowed. Dr. H. B. Hardy of Faulkner county, n member of the sub-committee investigating the budget submitted by the .state supreme court, said ho would vote against buying of new furniture for offices of the justices. "They have included an Itcnrof $4800 for new office furniture." Dr, Hardy said. "I have visited each justice's office and there is no nccdj for new furniture. "The 'court's budget does not call for a new carpet in the courtroom which is badly needed but it does request an increase In salary for some of the employes. "I'll vote for buying the new carpet and nyainst any salary raises for employes." . Senator ivy w. , Crawford of Blytheville, a member of the same sub-committee, said he- would join JP^.^'dy .in . ^vetoing ^' any salary "increases, .and .^ office 'If urnlture but would ap'roVe a new carpet for the chamber. Members of 'the sub-committee investigating budget requests for the governor's office said they had not gone into it Item', by item yet but Indicated they were sure ;Somc trimming .would take place before it is submitted to the legislature and that a similar process would take place In the budgets of other constitutional officers. '. LONDON, Dec. 17.'(UP)— Long range British bombing planes bombed Mimnheim, Germany's important commercial and trading center on the Rhine, for .seven hours last night, leaving their target a mass of 'flames, the air ministry said today. Berlin said British airplanes in nu attack on Mannheim lind caused considerable civilian damage). Bright moonlight made the Mnnnhcim targets clearly visible. One of the principal factories in Mannheim, which also Is a great railroad center, was straddled by bursting bomb.s. Mannheim was boon bombed 29 times since the war begun. In the .suburb of Ludwlgskuvcn a die factory, one of the largest In Germany, \vas llred and the blaice still was visible a half hour after the raiders left for home. "Pence Feelers?" LONDON, Dec. 17. (UP)—Lord Sncli, deputy government lender, told the house of lords today that Germany has put forward a number of vague pcacp feelers since outbreak of the war. "His Majesty's government could never accept any arrangement.' which would have the effect of perpetuating German domination of • Europe and they arc resolved and determined to do-all in his power to deliver the nations now under the heel of Germany from that yoke and restore them to their former 'Independence arid- prosperity," Shell ••'said,- ' ; - Further Action Expected LONDON, Dec. 17. iUP)~Large scale -.British; fajlffaty operations" against Ethiopia' and Italian So- malimnd may be imminent, the military correspondent of the press association, a British news agency, said today t . <v Mrs. S. S. Sternberg's Father Dies Suddenly Adolph Weinberger of Guthrie, Okla., father of Mrs...S. S. Sternberg, died suddenly last night at his home in Guthrie. Mrs. Sternberg was motored to Memphis by the O. W. McCutchen family, immediately upon receiving the message, and there she joined her son, Harold, for the trip to Guthrie. Funeral arrangements were incomplete today. Mr. Weinberger is also survived by two sons who live In Guthrie and .Oklahoma City. To Attend Banquet Honoring Winners In Farm Contests In Memphis today for the seventh annual Plant To Prosper celebration are winners of the Mississippi County contests, some of whom also won state awards to make them eligible for sweepstakes prizes, leaders in agricultural activities and representatives of the Courier -News which co-sponsored the 1940 contest In Mississippi County with The Commercial Appeal. Eyes of thousands of farm families in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri wr-re focused on Memphis today -as lenders' of commerce and industry in the Mid- South pay tribute to 324 county winners in the annual MidSouth Farm Forum and Plant To Prosper Rally. Approximately 800 farmers, extension workers, Farm Security Administration supervisors, newspaper editors, Farm Bureau officials and business leaders of the four states are in Memphis for the all-day celebration. The forum, held this morning, was followed by the Plant To Pros- Std of N J 33 3 . 8 Per luncheon at Hotel Claridge in Texas Corn' ", 39 1-2 • !?° nor of newspaper editors of the _. _ _. . ' ' ' ' '"''..- ! MlrtSrmfti U. S. Steel * 69 Chicago Corn open ' high ~ low close Dec. 58 7-8 59 3-4 59 1-8 59 7-8 May 59 '597-8 591-4 593-4 j The afternoon schedule is movies j and sightseeing for the women and livestock conference for the men. Climax .of the day's activities will come at.the dinner in the main ballroom of Hotel Peabo<3y tonight when,, the 1940 .Plant To Prosper Sweepstakes Trophy and $500 will be presented to the champion f armer of the MidSouth and a "heck for $250 to the Tenant Swcepstnkes Trophy winner, along other cash awards and tro- ~>hies which include the Enrolment Troohy to the extension agents the most farm fnmiVes entered in the contest this year and *o the ncwspaoer which did the best job of assisting in the competition. Outstanding agricultural leaders and widely known newsoaper men are on the day's program, all of !<*hich is attended by the county winners as pnjests of Tl™ Commercial Apneal and Memnhis Chamber of Commerce's Agricultural Committee. Tlio.se attending- from Mississippi County are: Mr. and Mrs. T. T. Onmpboii and children. Mr. and Mrs. William Katzenberer, Mr. and C. A. A. Class Stops Until January 2 The Civil -Aeronautics Authority class, started m Blytheville a week ago, has been : discontinued until Jan. 2 : because-, of the members having to -work nights during the Christmas rush. The quota of membership must be 25 before credit is received for therf-ground school work.which will lead to the 10 top-ranking students receiving lessons in flying and this number must be present for the first class after the holidays, it was pointed out by William Beswick who has replaced Norman F. Moore, resigned, as 'instructor." The original number which signed up for the free course, as a part of the National Defense Program, was 49, which is {he quota's limit. J. P. Holland is to give Instructions in flying upon completion of the two months' pre-trainlng course to be held for two hours nightly exr cept on Saturday and Sunday. Facsimile of "America" To Colgate Collection HAMILTON, N. Y. (UP)—A facsimile of the national hymn "America" in the handwriting of its author. Dr. Samuel Francis Smith, has been added to the Baptist Historical Collection at Colgate University. ; : The gift commemorated the 45th anniversary of the death of "Smith. By United Press Adolf Hitler, acting through his agent, Otfo 1 . Abetz, today moved forcibly into the dramatic but-stilT obscure French situation. His first achievement was " trfe release 1 from confinement of Pierrp, Laval, ousted French vice-premier and lending exponent of Franco- , German "collaboration", possibly- even to the extent of a French'" declaration of war on Great Britain. - ; . r ~ Laval's release was accompanied by a revealing Nazi statement ^in Berlin which expressed "extraordinary interest" in Laval's dismissal nncl a determination to exain-" me the motives behind the weekend; drama In which he 'was sue- 1 ccoded ns foreign minister by Pierre Eticune Flandin. ',' - : . Nnzls said that the events raised" the question whether or not France will "continue the European policy." The "European policy" is a German term employed to describe Hitler's idea of a Nazi-dominated European order. Laval had bent his efforts toward obtaining 'for • Prance a major position in that order nnd the German statement seemed to hint at doubts that the Vichy government, minus Laval would continue this policy. Flandin, laval's successor as fort eign minister, was confined to bed by grippe. Abetz had paid a brief courtesy visit to him on his arrival from Paris last night, Petain arranged a formal luncheon for Abetz. He had planned a' state, visit but Abetz wants to leave Ihis afternoon so he could arrive in- Paris' tonight. - : (This -also- 1 would "indicate a-de- 1 Bree , 0 f urgency. irUAbetz's • mission; • ns he • "would naturally "report " to Adolf Hitler from occupied Paris and not from non-occupied Vichy.) It was hoped that Flandin could talk at greater length with Abetz today, as part of the German envoy's mlsslo hwns to effect personal contact with Flandin and" other key men who will not administer French foreign policy 'under -retain. ^ , . Abetz was the first official German-visitor to Vichy since Petain and Hitler, at their conference, at Montoire, discussed relations. Since then •all negotiations had been conducted at Paris by Laval arid Fernand de Brinon, French env6y to Paris. Brinon accompanied Abetz to Vichy. , Well informed quarters forecast that ns the result of the visit, Petain might speed up his plans to make his headquarters as chief of state at "Versailles, outside Paris. If Petain moved to Versailles he would have a secondary headquai> ters here, where''the foreign office and other .departments,- and the diplomatic corps, would remain. Abetz came to Vichy with a staff ,of seven experts and a guard of nine soldiers, who during the motor drive through . non-occupied France stood at the v alerc hi motor cars, preceding, and following Abetz's car, with their tommy- guns .at .the ready. ————~_^__^^___ -i Attend Funeral Sunday For Mrs. T. A. Jeffries, Sr, Mr. and Mrs.- T. Wade Jeffries were, in McCrqry Sunday-for the funeral of Mr. Jeffries' stepmother, Mrs. T. A. Jeffries Sr.. 'who died at her home there Friday. »•-> Mrs. Jeffries, 61, wife of Thomas A Jeffries Siv planter, had been ill two days with a heart ailment". at one time or another the national anthem of Denmark, Prussia. Italy, Hungary, Russia and Iceland. Mrs. Pavne and Mr. and Mrs. Dan E. Randle, all of whom are comneting for other awards aftf;r winning county honors: Miss- Cora Lee Coleman, J. J. Pickrcn. Miss Inez Kincaid and E. H. Burns, extension agents, who are competing for the Enrolment Tronhv: George Roth, David C. Ncal, Miss Delia Purt.le. Miss Frances Wall, H. C. Knapoenberger, Roy Little and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Norrls. vHacry W, Haines, publisher of the Courier News, will. also attend v'onight's affair. '•• •• ••••'-• ' 16 FOR- VOW THAT yOU M4DE —OO ID G-ET SHOPPING XBSE, 7 ££E THE • MINUTE 5 SHOPPING DAYS Till CHRISTMAS McCrovy. Other. Blytheville people who went over .for the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Ruperc Crafton, Miss Zola Crafton and Mrs. Frank Tomlinson of New Orleans, houseguest of Mrs. S. P. Crafton. Duke And Duchess Sail From Miami For Nassau MIAMI. Fla., Dec. 17. (UP)—The duke and duchess of Windsor returned to Nassau late today aboard the yacht Southern Cross, -which brought them here a week ago so the duchess could undergo a major dental ooeratlon. WEATHER Arkansas—Partly 'cloudy, ; slightly warmer in northwest portion tonight. Wednesday Increasing cloudiness, warmer. Memphis and vicinity — Partly 1 cloudy tonight, lowest temperature 130. Wednesday increasing cloudi- 1 ness and v slightly warmer, highest 38. '- -.